Tablets are one of tech's most versatile purchases. You can use them to watch films, send emails, browse the web or even make music. If the size of your phone screen just doesn't cut it, then a tablet is the perfect companion.

There are many great tablets out there - iPads are obvious choices - but there are several we'd recommend for you depending on your budget, needs and taste in design. And of course there are many terrible tablets out there, so rest assured none of those are in the below round up.

Your buying guide to the best tablets in 2018

While Apple has something of a hold on the tablet conversation, there are great Android alternatives from Samsung, Huawei and Amazon. And if you need a tablet with full Windows, Microsoft is there for you.

Apple iPads run Apple's own iOS operating system which is widely regarded as one of the best out there. It's easy to use and app makers usually make it their first choice, so you're pretty much guaranteed to find what you're after.

If you have an iPhone, then it'll also be very familiar.

This is valuable when you buy accessories that require apps - mainly smart home or fitness gadgets - as you may not be able to control these from a Windows tablet.

In most cases, apps are made available on Android as well as iPads, but not always. Android tablets can be cheaper than iPads, but there are some Samsung models which cost the same or are more expensive.

Windows tablets come in both cheap and expensive guises, but it has the advantage of being able to run the same programs you use on your laptop or PC - not just as many finger-friendly tablet apps as you'll be used to on your phone or on an iPad.

And that's why most Windows tablets come with a keyboard, or offer it as an option: they're really a hybrid of a laptop and tablet. But as you'll find out in most of our Windows tablet reviews, this is rarely a case of getting the best of both worlds. One exception is the Surface Pro from Microsoft.

The fourth option is Amazon's Fire tablets. These are based on Android but are locked into Amazon's system: you won't find any Google services or apps on them so bear this in mind. But they are very affordable.

Best Tablets 2018

The iPad 2018 isn't perfect but it's the best all-rounder money can buy at the moment. At £319 it balances affordability with design, specs and features.

It doesn't have a laminated screen or the latest processor, but this won't matter for the vast majority of users. The fact is, the iPad can do a bit of everything and adding Apple Pencil support means you no longer need to splash out on an iPad Pro.

The Tab S4 might be the newer model, but we feel the Tab S3 is actually a better buy. It's still available and now yours for a much cheaper price.

Samsung's newer device might have bigger screen and built-in DeX software with the aim of replacing your laptop, but that won't be the case for most users. Largely, the tablet is still similar with much the same design and features like quad speakers.

If you're looking for a high-end Android tablet, then the Tab S3 is still our pick of the bunch.

The 11in iPad Pro is the best Pro yet, and probably the best iPad ever but it comes at a price. And unless you really need the features afforded by the Smart Keyboard and 120Hz display then you'd be better off with the regular iPad.

But for creatives or those who want to use the iPad Pro as a laptop then this is the best option, it just comes at a high price. It has Face ID, amazing build quality, great battery life and a new Apple Pencil that's better than ever.

If you're looking for a Windows 10 tablet you could do a lot worse than the Surface Pro 6. The retail price finally includes the necessary Type Cover, but the Surface Pen is still an optional extra.

Now in matt black, the Pro 6 is a powerful and versatile Windows tablet that is a great portable option if you want a tablet that is as good as a laptop with full Windows 10. It's odd that there's no USB-C port but otherwise we can fully recommend it.

Although the Tab S4 is the same price as its predecessor, there's not a huge amount that's new here. And it's a shame not to find the latest processor.

A larger 10.5in screen rivals the smaller iPad Pro and Samsung's DeX software is built-in to provide PC-like functionality. Samsung's aim is to replace your laptop but that's only doable if your usage is pretty basic.

This is no doubt one of the best Android tablets around but will be overkill for many, both in price and features. Unless you're completely anti-Apple, the iPad 9.7 for 2018 is a comparative bargain at £319.

The iPad mini 4 is now only available in 128GB so starts at a higher price of £419. That makes it one of the most expensive small tablets around but it's still one of the best. It's got a great screen, excellent build quality, top battery life and Apple's wealth of apps. You won't be disappointed if you can afford it.

When an iPad costs just £20 more, you might have a hard time choosing the Tab 3 Plus instead. But if you do, you gain some advantages over Apple's go-to tablet.

The Tab 3 Plus has a built-in stand, excellent Dolby Atmos speakers and a bigger and slightly higher resolution display. If you don't mind the slightly odd design in portrait mode then this may be enough to sway you.

It's one of the best tablets you can buy if you're addicted to Netflix, and is great for reading magazines, books and surfing the web. Just don't expect many software updates past Android Nougat.

As was our verdict on the MediaPad M3: the M5 is an above-average tablet which is a good alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab range and the iPad mini. The iPad mini is is less of a great deal these days. It costs a lot because you can only get it with 128GB of storage.

If your budget is more like £300/US$300, it's a struggle to recommend the MediaPad M5 when the 2018 iPad 9.7 has a headphone socket, support for the Apple Pencil and - well - it's an iPad running iOS.